Lundy’s 30-Burger Enough for Comeback Victory at Maryland in Final Regular Season Game
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — After scoring just 10 points in his last four games, Penn State sophomore Seth Lundy posted 31 against Maryland (15-12, 9-11) Sunday night in the Xfinity Center. His performance along with Myreon Jones’ 17 was enough to net the Nittany Lions (10-13, 7-12) a come-from-behind 66-61 victory in the final game of the regular season.
“I love this team,” said Lundy, who scored 30-plus for the first time since Dec. 2 against VCU for his second-highest career total. “Every player on this team, everyone on the coaching staff told me to just keep shooting… Everybody believed in me since day one and no one gave up on me… We started off slow [tonight], and the team looked to me.”
His squad was down 33-23 at the half, though Lundy had 14 of those buckets, including Penn State’s first nine. Those 23 points are tied for Penn State’s lowest first-half total this season when they had 23 the first time they played the Terrapins on Feb. 5.
But a 43-28 Nittany Lions score in the second half turned the tables. It took a while, though; Penn State didn’t lead for the first time all night until there was just 1:23 to go. That’s when Lundy sank a one-handed floater to give Penn State the 58-57 advantage. He then sealed the deal on the next possession after a defensive stop when he nailed his fifth 3-pointer of the game on the right wing with the shot clock winding down.
Interim head coach Jim Ferry credited the sophomore forward’s play from last Wednesday against Minnesota as a big reason for his signature performance on Sunday.
“I thought it started [Wednesday] when he played so hard and defended and rebounded,” Ferry said. “Hopefully that’s it, and he clicks as we head into the Big Ten Tournament.”
Ferry also credited the team’s defensive effort against the red-hot Terrapins, who had won five straight and were desperately seeking another win to stay out of NCAA Tournament bubble territory. But the Penn State defense limited junior guard Eric Ayala to 14 points after he scored 23 in the first meeting between the teams. And the Terrapins were limited to just one offensive rebound for the lowest total Penn State has allowed all year.
Junior guard Jones scored 17 for his eighth-straight game in double figures. The rest of the team struggled offensively, though, as John Harrar was the third-highest scorer with seven. But Harrar and his teammates won the rebound battle for the 11th time this season, 39-31.
No matter what the Nittany Lions did Sunday, they were locked into the No. 11 spot for the Big Ten Tournament, and knew they were guaranteed to play Nebraska on Wednesday at 9 in Indianapolis. But the victory has given Ferry and his guys a confidence boost that was missing earlier in the season.
While the win is another thing the interim coach can put on his résumé for his potential to return to the program next season, Ferry wanted to make sure that he was focused on winning and being in a good spot heading into the tournament.
“It’s not about me,” Ferry said. “I’ve been coaching a long time… It’s about the kids.”
Jack McCune is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jxm1237@psu.edu.
